Suspension
I photographed body suspension in Seattle for my last assignment for Klipsun. I met up with PURE circus for a private suspension session in a warehouse just under the West Seattle Bridge. I got to meet some really nice people, including the two individuals who were suspended: Maxx Sundquist and Michael “Lurch” Robinson. Overall it was a very enlightening experience. I was amazed at the focus and inner strength that it takes to go through such an experience. Click on for more and follow my flickr page for cutline information. (more…)
Cutting
I photographed this series a couple weeks back for a story running in Klipsun magazine. I traveled down to Portland to meet Emily Merker at her apartment. She is defitnetly one of the nicest people I have photographed. At a new transition in her life Merker stressed the importance of being a voice for those who inflict intentional harm to themselves.
Emily Merker sits outside her apartment at Portland, Oregon, on March 7, 2009. Merker started cutting herself at age 9 and at 20-years-old has been free of self-injury for 11 months. “My parents didn’t know how to deal with it. It is in issue that needs to be brought up and if it continues to be swept under the rug it will continue to be a problem.”
-Mark
Flying Man
After about a month of craptastic weather we finally caught a break. I ventured off to Blanchard Mountain and saw these paragliders flying through the air (of course I neglected to bring my long glass). It was amazing to see these guys soaring through the sky like birds. Catching air currents to gain altitude as they dipped up and down from the earth. Apparently you can spend all day in the sky if the weather permitted. I did not realize that they actually take off and land on the mountain. I shot a couple of frames of Bellingham native Roger Brock, just after he touched down on the mountain. Hopefully I’ll get to photograph him again in the future. Click on for more (more…)
Zoo Day
Zoos are by far one of the best parts of childhood outings. I took my nephew to the Woodland Park Zoo for the day and it was just as magical as I remembered. Animals are amazing and it’s a shame that sometimes this is the only way we can truly appreciate them. I wonder how many animals would leave the structured life given the opportunity and how many are content on hand fed meals. Click on for more photos. (more…)
Mark Banaag Art
Hello, friends! It has been awhile since my last post. My last couple of weeks have been pretty busy with finishing the last couple of shoots for Klipsun magazine and finals week. I recently photographed the artwork by my friend Mark Banaag. He is quite the talented individual and has just started his business selling his art. If you are interested check out his work at MODE organic salon in Seattle. I will be posting my work from the last couple of weeks so stay tuned to see some new content.
-Mark
Downtown Bellingham
I photographed this from the inside of the Herald sign overlooking downtown. It was quite the frigid night.
-Mark
Drag Show
I photographed the 17th Annual Drag Show on Western’s campus about two weeks ago. I could only stay for the first half, but the performances I saw were quite entertaining. The shoes, costumes and performers were colorful and full of life. The LGBTA hosted the event and the proceeds went towards AIDS outreach and community support organizations; Sean Humphrey House and the Evergreen AIDS Foundation. Click on for more. (more…)
Vagina Memoirs
I had the great opportunity to photograph the Vagina Memoirs hosted by Westerns Women’s Center. Press release:
The Vagina Memoirs is an important and powerful event of women-identified people sharing their personal experiences with our community. These are 13 local women who have spent the last few months exploring their identities, memories and moments of powerlessness as well as moments of power. Examining the subversion, status-quo, and wonders of gender, orientation, legacy and identity through personal journeys of self-actualization. This will be a space where personal, frightening, funny, taboo and generally women-empowering subject will be explored and examined.
This event has been dififcult to get permission to photograph in the past and the Performance Arts Center auditorium was filled to capacity. Big thanks to the coordinators at the center. It was an amazing performance by all the women, and I was truly moved. Click on for more photos (more…)
Tango class
-Mark
